Themes: Kids in Trouble, Drug Addiction, Writer's Life
Main Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jimmy Papiris, Nick Gaetani, Bruno Kirby, Lorraine Bracco, Alexander Gaberman, Ernie Hudson, Ben Jorgensen, Akiko Ashley, Patrick McGaw
Release Year: 1995
Country: US
Run Time: 102 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Very loosely based on the memoir of the same name, The Basketball Diaries transposes the late '60s adolescence of writer/artist Jim Carroll to some unspecified time period at least 15 years later, further confusing the timeframe with three decades of rock music, some by Carroll himself. Jim (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his Catholic school chums are on the hottest basketball team in New York, but their friend Bobby (Michael Imperioli) languishes in the hospital with leukemia. In-between typically boyish adventures, Jim scribbles in his notebook and experiments with sex and drugs. His group of friends begins to disintegrate after coach Swifty (Bruno Kirby) not only makes a pass at Jim, but also catches him and his pals using drugs on the court and kicks them off the team. Out of school and on the streets, Jim turns tricks, betrays friends, robs stores, and deals drugs to feed his heroin addiction. Not even the efforts of former addict Reggie (Ernie Hudson) can cure Jim. Mark Wahlberg appears as one of Jim's basketball and drug buddies, while Carroll himself makes a memorable cameo as an addict who describes the almost Catholic rituals of shooting heroin. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Juliette Lewis - Diane Moody; Cynthia Daniel - Winkie; Brittany Daniel - Blinkie; Erik "Panther" Betts - Drug Dealer #1; Joyce R. Korbin - Mugging Victim; Lawrence Barth - Referee #2; Gary Iorio - Policeman; Jim Carroll - Frankie Pinewater; John Hoyt - Billy the Bartender; Manny Siverio - Pino; Tom Fitzpatrick - Subway John; Vincent Pastore - Construction Worker; Manny Alfaro - Manny; Doc Dougherty - Policeman; Barton Heyman - Confessional Priest; Michael Imperioli - Bobby; James Madio - Pedro; Michael Rapaport - Skinhead; Marilyn Sokol - Chanting Woman; John Vennema - Mr Rubin; Josh Mostel - Counterman; Roy Cooper - Father McNulty; Toby Huss - Kenny; Mark Wahlberg - Mickey; William Webb - Juju Johnson
Credit
Avy Kaufman - Casting, David C. Robinson - Costume Designer, David C. Dean - First Assistant Director, Scott Kalvert - Director, Dana Congdon - Editor, Chris Blackwell - Executive Producer, Dan Genetti - Executive Producer, Verne Caruso - Hair Styles, Eddy Collyns - Location Manager, Graeme Revell - Composer (Music Score), Brian Williams - Musical Direction/Supervision, Diane Hammond - Makeup, Gina G. Riggi - Makeup, Phil Oetiker - Camera Operator, Jim McConkey - Camera Operator, Christopher Nowak - Production Designer, David Phillips - Cinematographer, John Bard Manulis - Producer, Liz Heller - Producer, Paul Hellerman - Producer, Kathie Hersch - Producer, Harriet Zucker - Set Designer, William Sarokin - Sound/Sound Designer, Paul Clay - Sound/Sound Designer, Don Hewitt, Sr. - Stunts, Jay Carrado - Stunts, David Shumbris - Stunts, Bob Colletti - Stunts, Danny Cosmo Higginbottom - Stunts, Todd Michael - Stunts, Jon Rothstein - Stunts, Edgard Mourino - Stunts Coordinator, Karyn Rachtman - Supervisor/Manager, Diana Schmidt - Unit Production Manager, Bryan Goluboff - Screenwriter, Alan Wolfe - First Assistant Camera, Vince Vennitti - First Assistant Camera, Michael Berg - Gaffer, Bill Klayer - Gaffer, Gary Martone - Key Grip, Josh Winget - Music Editor, Paul DiBartolo - Musical Performer, Michele Giordano - Production Coordinator, James R. Bilz - Properties Master, Jeffrey Perkins - Re-Recording Mixer, Lisa Katcher - Script Supervisor, Rob Albertell - Second Assistant Director, Steve Kirshoff - Special Effects Coordinator, Jim McConkey - Steadicam Operator, K.C. Bailey - Still Photographer, Victor Iorillo - Supervising Sound Editor, Andrew Saxe - Assistant Location Manager, Trish Adlesic - Assistant Location Manager, Joe Schwartz - Assistant Sound Editor, Monique Mitchell - Best Boy Grip, Charlie Marroquin - Dolly Grip, Byron Crystal - Extra Casting, Tim Sternberg - First Assistant Editor, Shane Shemko - Foley Artist, Cam Wagner - Foley Artist, Tim Metzger - Leadman, James Dean Schulte - Second Assistant Editor, Jeffrey Rollins - Set Dresser, Jim Carroll - Book Author, Bill Mellow - Foley Recordist
Film adaptation of street tough Jim Carroll's (Leonardo DiCaprio) epistle about his kaleidoscopic free fall into the harrowing world of drug addiction. As a member of a seemingly unbeatable high school basketball squad, Jim's life centers around the basketball court and the court becomes a metaphor for the world in his mind. A best friend who is dying of leukemia, a coach ("Swifty") who takes unacceptable liberties with the boys on his team, teenage sexual angst, and an appetite for heroin—all of these begin to encroach on young Jim's dream of becoming a basketball star. Soon, the dark streets of New York become a refuge from his mother's mounting concern for her son. He can't go home and his only escape from the reality of the streets is heroin for which he steals, robs and prostitutes himself. Only with the help of Reggie, an older neighborhood friend with whom Jim "picked up a game" now and then, is he able to begin the long journey back to sanity. The film is set in the early 90s, while Carroll's actual book recounts experiences from growing up in the 60s.
The film received mixed reviews, and currently holds a 38% rotten rating based on reviews from critics at the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes due to the film's intense depictions of drug abuse and addiction. Considerable praise was given towards Dicaprio, with some saying "bravura turn that should've won him an Oscar", as well as praising Mark Wahlberg's supporting performance as the violent Mickey.[citation needed]
Controversy
After the Heath High School shooting, lawyer Jack Thompson brought this film into a $33 million lawsuit claiming that the film's plot, among other media, caused the 14-year-old Michael Carneal to shoot members of a prayer group. The case was dismissed.[1]
